Chris Cooke, a forceful middle-order batsman, grew up in Johannesburg but spent several summers playing league cricket in Sussex and then for Tamworth in the Birmingham league. But it was back on the south coast in 2010 that he made his mark playing for Bournemouth in the Southern Premier League. He was given a chance by Glamorgan and has steadily developed his career in Cardiff.

He caught the eye when bludgeoning 106 from 57 balls for Bournemouth and was offered some second XI cricket by Glamorgan. A year later came his opportunity in the first XI, a T20 against Middlesex in Cardiff. He made an immediate impact, striking his second, third and fourth balls for six and later in the summer also made a big century against Somerset in the 40-over competition as he established himself in the Glamorgan side. But it wasn't until two years later that he gained an opportunity in first-class cricket.

Not until half-way through 2013 was Cooke handed a place in the Championship XI but he took his chance and made 394 runs at a shade under 40 in the remaining seven matches of the season. He played a bigger part in the 2014 campaign and notched up his maiden first-class century at Canterbury on his way to 870 runs at 43.50.

Cooke's early cricket came at Western Province for whom he played six matches in the 2009-10 season and also played a full part in the one-day competition and made his first century in professional cricket against Boland at Newlands. He is also a level two coach.
ESPNcricinfo staff